G/F, F6(sus2 b5)

Scaler 3 Feature Requests
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We also frequently use G/F chords.

Adding an F under a G chord is very easy to understand. Music enthusiasts all over the world know about G/F.

But how many people would know F6(sus2 b5)?

I really don’t understand this kind of notation.

Could Scaler be made easier to understand?
If the design company likes complexity, then could they allow customers to choose between a complex display and a simple display?

2 Likes
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Hi @swingmix.
In real-world usage, most guitarists, keyboard players, and arrangers would not usually call this sound G/F. In practice, it’s far more commonly understood and labelled as G7, with the F functioning as the dominant seventh. Many musicians would not even think of it as a slash chord at all.
Most music software follows that same convention and prioritises functional naming (dominant, major, minor, etc.) over literal bass-note analysis.
Scaler takes a different approach. Rather than assuming harmonic function, it analyses:

  • the actual lowest note,
  • the precise interval structure above it, and labels the chord explicitly from that bass note upward.

That’s why it may display a more complex name instead of G7 or G/F.
So this isn’t Scaler being unaware of common musical practice - it’s a deliberate design choice to avoid assuming intent where shorthand normally does.
That said, a functional or shorthand display mode (including G7 or slash-style labels) is something we could actively consider.
Appreciate the discussion.

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I think that would be good. I had come here to make the same suggestion. The way scaler 3 currently handles these abstractions is clearly impressive and very powerful as an engine, but I feel it does create some confusion where functional shorthand should exist.

For example, even with Gmajor scale selected in the Browse page, if I search for “G6” the closest thing that appears is G Maj add13. Harmonically correct but not in line with standard taxonomy.

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Welcome to the community @CreativeNorthMedia I’ll have a chat with the team. I think it’s an either / or. Functional shorthand does make sense but it’s a question of how all the other associated functionality, searches etc respond.

1 Like
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Thanks! Glad to be here :slight_smile:

Yes I figured as much. Would a “chromatic scale” filter provide a possible solution? Currently all chords are harmonically relabelled based on what scale is selected. Indeed, before realising this I found a way to make the system return Bbb chords when searching for Am!

Perhaps in this way chord searches can return based on common taxonomy in chromatic mode, without having to undo the harmonic labelling when other scales are selected.